Synthesis, Characterization, and Theoretical Modeling of 2D Molybdenum Boride (MBene) for All Solid-State Flexible...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Electrochemistry

Background:

• Two-dimensional transition metal borides (2D MBenes) offer advanced properties but are understudied.
• 2D molybdenum boride (2D MoB), derived from MoAlB (MAB phase), is a stable material with potential applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare 2D MoB MBene nanostructures via chemical exfoliation of MoAlB.
• To investigate the effect of etching conditions on Al extraction and MoB formation.
• To evaluate the performance of 2D MoB in all-solid-state flexible interdigitated supercapacitors (ISSCs).

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of MoAlB and subsequent chemical exfoliation using NaOH and LiF-HCl solutions.
• Characterization using PXRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, and BET surface area analysis.
• Fabrication and testing of ISSC devices using 2D MoB electrodes.

Main Results:

• Successfully synthesized sheet-like 2D MoB MBene nanostructures with abundant redox sites.
• Demonstrated excellent electrochemical performance in ISSCs, achieving 20.3 mF/cm² areal capacitance and 92% retention after 1300 cycles.
• Confirmed structural integrity, phase purity, and favorable surface properties via multiple characterization techniques.

Conclusions:

• Etching conditions critically influence the selective removal of Al for 2D MoB MBene formation.
• The synthesized 2D MoB MBene exhibits promising properties for high-performance, flexible energy storage.
• This work opens new possibilities for 2D MBenes in next-generation supercapacitor technologies.